title: Prognostic factors for recurrence and survival in primary vulvar squamous cell cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate survival estimates and clinico-pathological variables in women with primary vulvar squamous cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective observational study. Setting. University hospital in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients treated for primary vulvar squamous cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective evaluation of demographic, pathologic and follow-up data of 91 patients obtained from hospital records and private gynecologic oncology files.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recurrence rate and survival estimates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 62 years. Of the women, 62% had early stage disease (stages I-II), while 39% had advanced stages (stages III-IV) at diagnosis. The overall recurrence rate was 13%. Recurrence rates were significantly higher in the presence of local wide-deep excision as an initial treatment, larger initial tumor size, positive lymph node involvement, advanced stage, presence of ulcerative lesions and adjuvant radiotherapy. The overall and 5-year survival estimates were 92 and 83%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lymph node invasion, stage, having ulcerative lesion, receiving adjuvant therapy, tumor diameter larger than 10 mm and having local excision as primary surgery may increase the risk of recurrent disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Sihhiye, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velipasaoglu
authors.forename: Mehmet C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guven
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gultekin
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bayraktar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000401:mortality; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey; D014844:Vulva / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery